• Nominations should include a description of the vision that led to the innovation, and who the leading participants were in developing that vision. Applications should also include a description of their goals for the innovation and how they reached them.

• Nominations should tell why the effort was essential to the business, and what lessons were learned that could be applied to other businesses in Vermont, nationally or internationally. Also to be provided is a short chronology of the effort, documenting the hurdles encountered and how they were overcome.

• Nominations should define the concrete results the business saw as a result of the innovation, including but not limited to carving out a new, or expanding an existing, niche for the company or organization.

The winner will be announced at the Lake Champlain Chamber annual dinner in November.